Scratch-Off Coin Holder

ABSTRACT

A scratch-off coin holder for use with a scratch gaming ticket comprising: a semi-circular body; an opening, where the opening is providing at a portion of the body and enables the insertion of a coin; and a thumb grip indentation on one side of the body. The scratch-off coin holder may further include a clasping ring, where the clasping ring provides a mechanism for attachment of a key ring. The holder is made of a flexible material such as a plastic gel. The opening may accommodate various sizes of coins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a coin holder that is used to secure acoin while scratching a lottery ticket.

2. Description of Related Art

Gambling is a pastime or in some instances a profession whereindividuals wager money to gain a pot or prize based upon the odds thatmay be related to the particular gaming. Gambling takes many forms forinstance casino games, table games, electronic gambling, Internet onlinegambling, Para mutual betting, sports betting and one of the mostpopular forms lotteries. In particular, lotteries are very popular inmost states and various foreign countries. The lottery is a form ofgambling that involves a drawing for a large pot. Individuals may entera lottery for a small amount usually a $1.00 entry fee in order to gaina chance at the large pot that may be available. Lotteries for the mostpart are organized by state governments and are presently legal in moststates. In addition to the opportunity to enter a large pot manylotteries offer smaller pots or smaller winnings that may be associatedwith tickets that have predetermined prizes concealed under latexmasking that covers a portion of the ticket. Many lottery playerspurchase these tickets and then scratch off the masking to determinewhether they have luckily purchased a winning ticket. Scratching off themasking typically involves using a coin or other suitable device thathelps to move the masking from the surface of the lottery ticket. Sometools have been developed to assist a lottery player in removal of themasking from scratch-off ticket such as disclosed in US PatentApplication No. 20090126135 which discloses a scratch-off tool forremoving coverings from a lottery game ticket where the tool is actuallyshaped like a key and includes a blade for removal of the masking of thescratch-off ticket. Another example of a lottery ticket scraper isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,590 which discloses a lottery ticketscraper that incorporates a coin as the scraping surface where thescraper includes a body that's modified with a tear drop shape where thescraper includes a recess for the insertion of a coin that may be gluedor pressed into the recess. Yet another example of a lottery ticketscraper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,818 where the scraperincludes four protrusions located around a circular disc.

Although some elaborate lottery ticket scrapers are available asdiscussed above a simpler scraping device that may be used inconjunction with the traditional coin is certainly needed for thelottery player. Many lottery players simply prefer using a coin since ithas been established as a suitable means to scrape the masking from thelottery ticket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scratch-off coin holder for use witha scratch gaming ticket comprising: a semi-circular body; an opening,where the opening is providing at a portion of the body and enables theinsertion of a coin; and a thumb grip indentation on one side of thebody. The scratch-off coin holder may further include a clasping ring,where the clasping ring provides a means for attachment of a key ring.The holder is made of a flexible material such as a plastic gel. Theopening may accommodate various sizes of coins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a prospective view of the scratch-off coin holderaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 1B depicts a scratch-off coin holder used in conjunction with a keyring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a scratch-off coin holder that allows alottery player to utilize a coin held within the holder to scrape andscratch off a traditional lottery ticket. The scratch-off coin holderaccording to the present invention is a semi-circular device thatincludes an opening for the insertion of a coin. The slot that receivesthe coin holds the coin in place once it is placed within the holder. Anindentation is provided on the holder so that the user may comfortablygrip the holder once the coin is inserted therein. Use of the coinholder in conjunction with a conventional coin allows the lottery playerto easily scratch off tickets and enjoy lottery gaming without some ofthe drawbacks of using a coin or having to purchase a specificscratch-off device for that purpose.

In reference to FIG. 1A, a scratch-off coin holder 20 is depictedcapable of receiving coin 30. As shown the coin holder 20 may verticallyattach to the coin 30 within an opening 22 provided in the holder 20.Once the coin 30 is inserted within this opening 22 the holder 20sufficiently secures the coin 30 in place for use by a lottery player.In addition to the opening 22 the coin holder 20 further includes athumb grip indentation 24 that allows the user to comfortably use theirthumb while scratching off lottery tickets. The thumb indentation 24helps the user to easily manipulate the holder 20 when scratching offlottery tickets.

In reference to FIG. 1B, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted. The alternative embodiment depicts the coinholder 20 where a coin 30 is inserted through the opening 22 as shown inFIG. 1A. However this particular coin holder 20 shown in FIG. 1Bincludes a clasping ring 44 that extends from the body of the coinholder 20. A chain 42 extends from this ring 44 and therefore forms akey ring 40 that may be associated with the coin holder 20. The key ring40 consequently provides a scratch-off coin holder with a multiplefunction of providing a key ring for the user. The user may easilyincorporate keys on the key ring 40 and keep track of the coin holder 20for use with their lottery pursuits.

The coin holder 20 according to present invention is made of a softflexible material but however firm enough to hold a coin within theopening 22. The opening 22 may vary in size to accommodate various sizecoins ranging from the traditional US dime to half dollar or even dollarcoin. The coin holder may be further manufactured with a gel or plasticmaterial so that it may be comfortably held and used by the user whenscratching off lottery tickets. The instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what it considers to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madethere from within the scope of the invention and that obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

1. A scratch-off coin holder for use with a scratch gaming ticketcomprising: a. a semi-circular body; b. an opening, where the opening isproviding at a portion of the body and enables the insertion of a coin;and c. a thumb grip indentation on one side of the body.
 2. Thescratch-off coin holder according to claim 1, further including aclasping ring, where the clasping ring provides a means for attachmentof a key ring.
 3. The scratch-off coin holder according to claim 1,where holder is made of a flexible material.
 4. The scratch-off coinholder according to claim 1, where the opening accommodates varioussizes of coins.